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Doctors sound alarm about COPD
From:Shine  |  2019-11-21 14:29

In China, many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ignore the early symptoms and don't seek medical treatment in time. Poor awareness of the disease also results in a high rate of misdiagnosis in China, medical experts told a public education lecture in Shanghai on Wednesday, also World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day.

COPD is a group of diseases that cause airflow blockages and breathing-related difficulties. It has some of the highest incidence and mortality rates in the world. There are 600 million people with the disease, which kills 2.7 million worldwide each year.

The incidence of COPD for Chinese over 40 years old is 13.7 percent, making it one of the largest health burdens on society, along with hypertension, diabetes and coronary disease.

To promote awareness of COPD, the Shanghai Health Commission and Shanghai Neighborhood Health Association have organized free pulmonary function screenings and consultation.

It is easy to identity COPD in its early stages through a simple and non-invasive pulmonary function examination at neighborhood health centers.

So far, about 70 health centers have been equipped with pulmonary function testing devices, officials said.

“Quitting smoking and adopting a healthy lifestyle are key to COPD prevention and control,” said Dr Hang Jingqing from Putuo District People’s Hospital. Cold and air pollution are also risk factors for the disease.

Doctors warn that winter and seasonal temperature changes are likely to deteriorate COPD. The disease is also closely related with bacterial and viral infection. Patients with COPD are suggested to get flu and pulmonary disease shots to prevent sickness.

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